Enjoy Islands, Cities, and Theme Parks! 15 Recommended Sightseeing Spots for Family Trips in Hyogo

Hyogo Prefecture stretches far from north to south, and travel distances and scenery vary greatly between areas such as Kobe, the Hanshin area, Awaji Island, and the Tajima area. Planning your itinerary by area, such as a day focused on theme parks or a day for nature experiences, makes it easier to get around with kids.

Another characteristic of Hyogo Prefecture is its varied scenery, from Kobe’s port town and Mount Rokko to Awaji Island, with the sea, mountains, and islands each offering a different view. Since the atmosphere changes significantly by area, you can enjoy a variety of scenery and experiences depending on your destination.

Hyogo is home to many spots where families can get active together, including KidZania Koshien, Nijigen no Mori, and Tojoko Toy Kingdom. With a wide variety of options such as animal encounters, job experiences, and athletic activities, it is easy to choose destinations that match children’s ages and interests.

An all-weather botanical and animal park where visitors can observe a variety of animals, including capybaras, shoebills, and Asian small-clawed otters. Inside the park, natural landscapes are realistically recreated, allowing visitors to get close to animals living in environments similar to free-range settings.
Experiences and performances such as feeding sessions and camel rides are also available, giving families a close-up look at the animals’ behavior and ecology.

A work and social experience facility where children ages 3 to 15 can try various jobs and services in a city built at about 2/3 real-world scale, learning how society works while having fun.
Inside the facility, pavilions operated by real companies line the streets, offering about 100 types of jobs and services. After completing a job experience, children receive the facility’s special currency, “KidZo,” which can be used for shopping and services, allowing families to learn about social systems through hands-on fun.

This is a place where children’s dreams of meeting Anpanman come true.
On the museum floor, visitors can experience familiar worlds from the picture books and anime, such as “Pan Kojo no Oka” and “Anpanman-go,” and stage shows featuring Anpanman and his friends are also held.
The shopping mall on the 1st floor has shops selling limited-edition goods and character bread, letting families fully enjoy the world of Anpanman together.

An athletic park spread across Mount Rokko. Supervised by the popular video creator group Fischer’s, the park offers up to 164 athletic points across 6 areas.
A wide range of courses make use of the mountain, sky, and waterside settings, including a long zipline and forest athletic courses. With varying difficulty levels, it is a spot where visitors of many ages can spend a full day playing.

One of Japan’s largest herb gardens, spread across an area about 1,312 ft above sea level. The garden features 12 themed gardens, including a rose garden and lavender garden, where visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers and herbs. At the Fragrance Museum, visitors can learn about the history of fragrance and try the scents of natural essential oils.
The views from the ropeway and dishes made with herbs are also part of the experience, making it a relaxing place for families to spend time together.

The main peak of the Rokko mountain range and a signature Kobe sightseeing spot accessible to the mountaintop by cable car.
Facilities include the Rokko Music Box Museum, where visitors can relax with the clean highland air and serene sounds of music boxes, and the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, which cultivates about 1,500 species, including alpine plants from around the world and plants from cold regions. Families can enjoy facilities and experiences unique to Mount Rokko while taking in nature and scenery.

A zoo located in central Kobe. It houses around 650 animals from about 120 species, including elephants, giraffes, and koalas, allowing visitors to observe many different animals. The zoo also has an area for interacting with small animals and an Animal Science Museum, making it a place where children can learn about animals while having fun.
There is also an amusement area with a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and other rides, which can be enjoyed along with the animal encounters.

A hands-on theme park that combines toy play with attractions. From educational toys to character toys, children can touch and play with a wide range of toys, and the facility is designed with the value of play itself in mind.
The park has 3 areas: the “Toy Rooms,” “Attractions,” and “WATER PARK Acapulco” (summer only), offering different ways to play based on age and interests. Many facilities are indoors, so families can have fun without worrying too much about the weather.

One of Japan’s most famous castles, also registered as a World Heritage Site. Also known as “White Heron Castle,” it features a connected castle tower complex in which the main keep and 3 smaller keeps are linked by roofed corridors. Having seen little actual battle and miraculously escaped damage during air raids, it still retains its graceful appearance today.
Nearby attractions include the Japanese garden Koko-en and the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History, making the area a pleasant place for families to stroll while learning about history.

A hands-on aquarium facing the Sea of Japan. Visitors can enjoy a variety of attractions, including the “Dolphin and Sea Lion Show,” “Steller Sea Lion Diving,” and “Fish Dance,” where they can observe fish behavior and try feeding them.
In addition to the attractions, one of the most popular experiences is “horse mackerel fishing,” where visitors can eat the fish they catch on the spot. Through interactions with living creatures and sea-related experiences, families can feel closer to the world of the ocean.

A park with caves of columnar joints formed by volcanic activity about 1.6 million years ago. It has 5 caves, including Genbudo and Seiryudo, which are designated as National Natural Monuments, and visitors can enjoy the mysterious scenery created by nature.
You can see the distinct shapes of each cave up close, including columnar joints nearly 49 ft long and curved formations.
Near the entrance is the Genbudo Museum, which displays rocks, fossils, and other exhibits, making it a place that may spark children’s interest in the history of the Earth.

Located inside Hyogo Prefectural Awajishima Park, Nijigen no Mori is a new-style theme park based on the concept of Cool Japan, technology, and nature. In a natural setting, visitors can enjoy a giant athletic course and an overwater zipline, as well as attractions that recreate the worlds of popular works.
Families can get active together while spending time as if they had stepped into the world of two-dimensional content.

A theme park with exhibits recreating famous landmarks from around the world, attractions, and hands-on facilities. In its representative “Miniature World” area, famous architecture and World Heritage sites such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Great Wall of China, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are recreated at 1/25 scale. Visitors can stroll through the park as if traveling the world while viewing buildings crafted down to fine decorative details.
There are also facilities for active play, including a 3D maze, grass sledding, and ziplining, offering families a variety of experiences.

A hands-on agricultural park where visitors can enjoy interactions with animals, flowers, and nature. In addition to observing animals such as koalas and capybaras, seasonal flower fields are also a highlight.
There are also harvesting experiences that introduce visitors to Awaji Island agriculture, as well as hands-on activities such as bread making and sausage making, allowing different ways to enjoy the park depending on the season and purpose of the visit.
Through animals, flowers, and agricultural experiences, visitors can experience the appeal of Awaji Island’s nature and food.

A park adjacent to the runway of Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport). Visitors can watch jets take off and land up close, and the observation deck also offers a close view of the airport.
The park includes facilities such as the Park Center, which displays air traffic control radar and other equipment actually used at the airport, as well as Adventure Hill, which features Cube Adventure, a large 3D maze. It is a place where visitors can enjoy exhibits and playground equipment while watching airplanes.

A city resort hotel located on Port Island in Kobe. With more than 700 guest rooms and Japanese, Western, and Chinese restaurants, it is a convenient base for sightseeing in Kobe.
Taking advantage of its excellent location overlooking Kobe’s cityscape, the Rokko mountains, and the sea, the rooftop observation deck “Rooftop Terrace Sorafune Kobe,” opened in 2022, has become a popular spot for its sweeping views from 361 ft above the ground.
Along with views of Kobe’s city and sea, the hotel stay itself is something families can enjoy.

A hot spring resort hotel located on a hill facing the Naruto Strait. From ocean-side guest rooms and the rooftop “KOHAKU Terrace,” guests can enjoy views of the Naruto Strait and the Onaruto Bridge, and the all-inclusive plan covers meals and lounge access.
At the open-air hot spring bath, impressive for its grand rockwork, guests can enjoy a slightly cloudy alkaline natural hot spring rich in bicarbonate ions.
Families can spend relaxing time at the hotel while enjoying the views, meals, and hot springs.

The official hotel located right in front of Tojoko Toy Kingdom. In addition to guest rooms such as Japanese-Western rooms, maisonette-style rooms, and family rooms, it offers plenty of facilities and services that make it easy to stay with babies and small children.
The Japanese, Western, and Chinese dinner buffet serves roast beef and pizza from a live kitchen. Baby food and kids’ menu items are also available, so each family member can enjoy meals suited to them.
There is also a large public bath with an open-air bath, a hinoki cypress bath, and a jacuzzi, offering a place to relax after a day of play.